When you live in central Wisconsin, you know to watch your household plumbing very carefully throughout winter. Frozen pipes, burst pipes, flooding, and plenty of other issues aren’t uncommon when temperatures dip below freezing and stay there. But what you may not know is that spring can also be problematic for your plumbing — just in different ways.
In this blog, our team at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating shares some of the most common springtime plumbing problems every homeowner should keep an eye out for.
1. Pipe Obstructions
As trees leave their dormant winter stage, their roots start growing again, which means spring and summer are prime times for root-based main line blockages. Should your drains start moving super slow or back up when you flush a toilet, call a plumber immediately. If there is a root intrusion and it’s severe, you may need trenchless sewer repair.
If you have large trees near your main line, keep an eye out for these other signs that indicate the need for sewer repair.
2. Leaking Pipes
When spring rolls around, keep an eye out for signs of indoor water damage like bubbling or peeling paint, warped wood, and damp drywall. These types of damage are often related to small cracks that develop in pipes that freeze during the winter.
Although it may seem like you’d notice a leaky pipe almost immediately after it happened, small leaks aren’t always readily detectable. When the pipes inside your walls or above your ceiling suffer minor cracks, it can take time for enough water to leak out that it causes noticeable damage.
If you do observe any signs of water damage, do your best to locate where the water is coming from, so you can shut off the appropriate valve. If you can’t identify a source, turn off your water main to prevent additional water from leaking out. Then call a plumber for leaky pipe repair.
You may also want to check out Frozen and Burst Pipes: How to Prevent Winter-Related Plumbing Leaks for tips on protecting your plumbing when it gets cold.
3. Clogged Outdoor Drains
Homeowners with outdoor drains often deal with blockages in spring caused by large amounts of outdoor debris. Typically, this issue pops up on properties where owners failed to clean up fallen leaves, sticks, and other yard waste before snow blanketed the ground.
If you have outdoor drains and didn’t do a thorough property cleanup before winter, inspect those drains when the weather allows. If you find considerable debris inside them, do your best to clean them out as promptly as possible.
If you allow the debris to sit in there, it can form a major blockage. Eventually, water won’t be able to flow through the drain, so it will disperse elsewhere on your property. Ultimately, you could deal with flooding if the season is particularly rainy.
4. Sump Pump Problems
Spring is the rainy season in central Wisconsin, which means your sump pump should be fully functional and ready to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at it. But for many homeowners, that’s not the case.
Plenty of people forget to test their sump pumps for functionality periodically. Since they see little, if any, use throughout winter, it’s all too easy to forget about this oh-so-essential apparatus. But if you do, you could be setting yourself up for a water damage disaster.
To avoid sump pump issues this spring, make sure you test your sump pump and inspect it for damage or deterioration. If you notice anything amiss, have a plumber come take a look at it.
5. Slow Drainage
Although slow drains can happen during any season, they’re quite common during spring. People stay inside their homes all winter, have guests, celebrate holidays, cook rich meals, and with all that household activity, the plumbing system gets plenty of use.
With all that use, foods, oils, and other foreign objects undoubtedly find their way into drains all over the house. Those substances build up throughout winter and ultimately, the buildup can grow so bad that it obstructs water flow through the drainage system by springtime.
If you notice your drains are moving slower than usual, it may be time to schedule a drain cleaning appointment. A camera drain inspection can reveal the source of the problem, and a professional drain cleaner can eliminate it rapidly. Plus, a pro can give you tips to help you maintain free-flowing drains all year long.
If you deal with slow drainage regularly, make sure you’re not putting these things down your drains!
6. Water Heater Problems
Throughout the winter months, your water heater likely sees a bit more action than it does during any other season of the year. And with that increased usage comes a higher potential for water heater issues. That’s especially true if you own an aging unit or one that’s already having minor problems.
When spring rolls around, it’s not uncommon for water heaters to experience issues caused by aging and increased usage over the preceding several months. You can learn all about those issues in 5 Signs Your Water Heater Is on the Verge of Failing.
If your plumber tells you it’s time for a new unit, you’ll also want to check out our overview of storage tank vs. tankless water heater heaters, so you can choose the best unit for your needs.
Need a Plumber in Wisconsin Rapids?
If your household plumbing system is acting up, don’t hesitate to call our team at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating. We serve Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, and the surrounding areas, and our licensed plumbers have over 85 years of combined experience. Give us a call today at 715-421-1800, send us a message, or request an estimate to get started or learn about how we can help you.